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Lita hit with three-match ban

By Lewis Rutledge

Reading striker Leroy Lita has been banned for three matches by the Football Association.

Reading striker Leroy Lita has been banned for three matches by the Football Association.

Lita was hit with an FA charge of violent conduct earlier this week following an incident during Reading's 0-0 draw with Charlton on Easter Monday.

He clashed with Addicks defender Talal El Karkouri but escaped punishment from referee Graham Poll, who did not see what happened.

Poll later reviewed video evidence and expressed his belief that Lita should have been sent off, therefore allowing The FA to examine the incident more closely.

A disciplinary commission has now decided that Lita should serve a three-match suspension, starting with immediate effect.

He will consequently sit out this Saturday's game with Fulham, as well as upcoming fixtures against Bolton and Newcastle.

Reading boss Steve Coppell feels the sentence was harsh as, in his opinion, the video evidence was questionable.

"I am fully supportive of the process of trial by television, but I am bitterly disappointed by the outcome in this case because I still consider the footage to be very inconclusive," he told the club's official website.